The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-12-03

| EuJEuf ADDttIIic AtlltIunaI
The busy scenes in and around
the Capitol indicate that the coming
session will be an unusually exciting
and important one. Everything is
now in readiDess for it, and the
heavy. mails received at both the
Senate and House postcffices, show
that many of the Sta tes' distinguish
ed Representatives are already here.
The new members are getting ini-
tiated into the ways Of doing busi-
ness within the marble walls Of the
| building, so as to be ready from the
first to put forth their best and most
effective efforts ia behalf of the in.
teres's of 6leir respective States.
Speaker Carlisle is here to stay. and
is in conference with prominent
members Of the last congress, who
have been returned to this, Giscuss.
ing the makeup" Of the numerous
committees Of the Honse. The con-
test for his seat gives him no uneasi-
ness, and his numerous friends place
his election to the speakcrslip as a
certainty. He is i'll frequent con-.
sultatiou with the president, and it
is believed that the two are cndeav-
oring to formulate some acceptable
plan for the settlement of the tariff
question. Some members think that
the committees will be announced
before the Christmas holidays, but
the best informed say it is impossi-
BILE. 1t always happens that after
the States are made up many things
arise, after the assembling Of con-
gress, to change them. The views
of the several members on different
subjects become better known after
the distinguished gentlemen meet
together at the capitol, and this often
leads to a change in the committees,
generally in the interest of carrying
out the policy previously decided
upon. Everything now concerning
congress must be in glittering gen
eialities, but in the course of tAee
weeks your correspondent can get
down to hard facts.
an official list of members Of the
next House shows that there are l6S
DEMOCRATS, and 1853 Republicans.
and i Independents. The Ipdepcnd-
ents are Anderson Of Iowa. Nichols
of North Carolina, Hopkins of Xir-
ginia. and Smith Of Wisconsin. In
the Democratic caucus it will re-
quire IS votes to nominate. There
are % senator's and 81 representa-.
tivcs now in the city.
The Supreme Court room was
crowded the day that Roscoe Conk.
ling with Randolph Tucker argued
the Virginia habeas corpus cases.
Great disappointment prevailed over
Conklins's presentation of the case
1t was expected that he would make
uot only a strong legal argument in
behalf of the prisoners, but also
warm up with the subject and with
feryor plead the causeof State rights.
But the astute lawyer confined him,
self to the dry details of the law,
and giving the reasons why the
prisoners should be released stated
them as those entertained by his
clients rather than by himself. After
he had finished no person was the
wiser as to his views on State rights,
SO it must be left to the future to as
certain where he stands On that i'm.
portant question. In my next let
ter expect to be able to give You
in brief the points relied on by the
court in its decision which will |
probably be rendered before then. |
The postoffice department for the |
first TIME in its history has reached |
the point where it is self sustaining. |
1t was a common thing in the past
for congress to be called on to ap.
propria1e from $8,o00,o00 TO $I5.,
for deficiencies until last
year, when it was reduced to 81
000,090. Now it is nothing, and in
anticipation Of its revenues exceed
ing its expenditures. United States
Treasurer Hyatt, in his report pre-
pared for congress, recommends that
the Surplus postal revenues be turn
ed into the treasury, like any other
public money.
Assistant Secretary Hawkins; OF
the Interior Department, SAYS that